Three men were arrested in Voula, southern Athens, on Friday for the possession of 233 kilos of cocaine found in a rented home. The Greek suspect made a statement before the prosecutor, denying that he had any involvement in drugs trafficking. The other two men are a Mexican and a Colombian-born Canadian who chose not to make any statements.

The Mexican is 25-year-old Riccardo Gonzalez, the younger of two brothers who are notorious cocaine barons despite their young age. The plan was to use Greece as a pylon for trafficking from Central America.

On March 4, 2014, Edgar and Riccardo Gonzalez arrived to Athens from Mexico via Paris. Lebanese-born American Jamil Farhat was present at meetings that took place at the Hilton Hotel where they all stayed for eight days without leaving the hotel. For the most part, the meetings were held at the restaurant and in their suites.

On August 13, a container arrived at the port of Piraeus from Panama filled with 21 tons of pineapple. Greek police were aware that the trip was a ‘dress rehearsal’ for what was to come. Mr. Farhat’s arrival to Greece on August 27 raised suspicion that it was only a matter of time before a drug shipment would be sent to Greece. Police investigations alerted authorities to be on the lookout for the arrival of 200 kilos of cocaine that would be transfered to a house that would be rented for this purpose.

The shipment arrived as expected on September 25 when a cargo of 21 tons of pineapple arrived at Piraeus along with cocaine with the crates of pineapples.

Riccardo Gonzalez arrived from Mexico on October 28 once the buyers for the cocaine worth 10 million euros was found.